knowlton



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1..

W. A. KNOWLTON. MOWING MACHINE No. 395,981. Patented Jan. 8, 1889..

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W. A. KNOWLTON. MOWING MAGHINE 3 ted Jan, 8.. 1889,.

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UNITED STATES Trice.

PATENT IVILLIAM A. KNOlVLTON, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB- TO DEXTER A. KNOIVLTON.

MOWlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 395,981, dated January 8, 1889.

Application filed February 23,1886. Serial No. 192,808. (No model.)

side drafts of the machine.

The expression cutting apparatus is employed throughout the specification and claims as including the coupling-bar, the finger-bar, the shoe, and the parts immediately connected therewith when taken as a whole.

\Vhen a particular part is referred to, a more specific term will be employed to denote it.

It consists in mechanism connecting the folding or finger-bar portion of the cutting apparatus with the draft mechanism, by which under the draft-strain of the team a portion of the weight of the cutting apparatus will be transferred to the wheeled carrying-frame. To accomplish these objects I have designed and constructed the apparatus represented in the accompanying drawings, and in connection therewith, will be hereinafter more fully described.

Figure 1 of the drawings is an isometrical perspective of portions of a mowing-machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a form of my improvement in isometrical perspective, slightly modified. Fig. 3 is a plan View of finger-bar portion of cutting apparatus. Fig. 4 is a rear edge view of the cutting apparatus as constructed.

The several parts in the figures, consisting of a supporting-frame, 1, mounted on carrying-wheels 2, and tongue 3, fixed to the frame, a coupling-bar, I, hinge-jointed at one end to the frame, a yoke-sleeve, 5, swivel-jointed on the free end of the coupling-bar, a shoe, 6, hinge-jointed to the yoke-arms, a finger-bar, 7, fixed to the shoe, a divider, 8, on the free end of the finger-bar, a thrust-bar, 9, having a hinged connection with the coupling-bar and with the supporting-frame, the whiffietree 10 and its connection with the tongue, and the gag-lever 11 of the cutting apparatus,

rising from the shoe thereof, as shown in Fig. 2, or pivoted upon the yoke-pivot, as shown in Fig. 1, are parts common to like machines, and may be any of theknown varieties capable of use in connection with my improvements.

A draft-chain,12, is connected at one end to the vertical arm 11, rising from the shoe end of the finger-bar portion of the cutting apparatus, and from its connection therewith is passed round a sheave, 13, connected with the tongue or supporting-frame, and thence to the whiffietree 10, and is connected therewith by means of a clevis, 14. The draft-chain 12 in its connection with the arm 11, rising from the shoe end of the finger-bar portion of the cutting apparatus, is made vertically adjustable to increase or lessen the leverage, and consequently the lifting power, of the draft-chain on the finger-bar portion of the cutting apparatus under the draft-strain.

The sheave 13 is pivotally connected with the tongue, and in its connection therewith is made vertically adjustable, to vary the incli nation of the draftchain between its connection with the uprising arm 11 and its passage round the sheave 13.

A bracket, 17, is secured 011 the side of the tongue and has parallel side portions, 18,which each have a vertical series of perforations in line with each other. A yoke, 19, has forked portions, which carry a vertical pin, upon which is mounted the pulley 13, and the inn er end of the arm is horizontally perforated for the passage of a pin, the ends of which have a bearing in two of the perforations in the bracket. The arm can swing vertically on. its pin to vary the vertical position of the pulley. The vertical adjustment of the sheave and of the chain in its connection wit-h the arm rising from the shoe end of the finger-bar portion of the cutting apparatus furnish the means under t]1edraftstrain to properly bal ance the ends of the finger-bar portion of the cutting apparatus relatively with each other, and reduce its frictional contact with the ground to its lowest practical point, and trans fer the weight of the cutting apparatus sustained by the draft of the team to the carrying-frame to increase the cutting power of the machine, lessen its direct draft, and also its side draft.

In the foregoing I have employed a sheave to deflect the draft-chain to the required angle between its connection with the cutting ap 'iaratus and the whiffletree; but instead of the sheave a bell-crank lever, 16, (shown in l i 2,) or other equivalent device, may be employed, the object being to carry the draftchain from its connection with the cutting apparatus in thelengtlnvise direction of the cutter-l N11 or laterally to the lengthwise direction of the machine to meet the line of draftcentrally,and then change its direction lengthwise of the machine to connect with the whiffletrce. In this modification I have dispensed with the vertical adjustment of the draftchain, as it is evident that in the construction and nntnufacture of an y particular machine the positions may be so arranged as to produce a practical machine without further adjustment I claim as my inventiou- I. In a mower, the combination, with a rising-aml-falline' cutting apparatus connected I i of the cutting apparatus in vertical ad ustat one end to the main frame, and a whiitletree having a movement relatively to the machine in the direction of the line of draft, of a flexible connection of the whitl'letree with the foldingor finger-bar portion of the cutting; ammratus, substantially set forth.

In a mower, the combination,with a risi11 r-and-t'allin t;' cutting apparatus connected at one end to the main frame, and a whittletree having a movement reltttively to the machine in the direction of the line of draft, of a flexible connection of the whiflietrec with the folding or finger-l 211 portion of the cutting apparatus, and a bearii'lg for the flexible connectiml intermediate of its end connections, the said hearing being located at one side of the direct line between the linked connection with the whiffletree and the folding or finger-bar portion of the cuttingappara .tus, substantially as set forth.

3. In a mower, the combination, with a rising-and-falling' cutting apparatus connected at one end to the main frame, and a Whitfietree having a movement relatively to the machine in the direction of the line of draft, of a flexible connection of the whililetree with the folding or finger-bar portion of the cut ting apparatus, and abearing'for the linked connection located at one side of the direct line between its connections with. the whifiietree and the folding or finger-bar portion of the cutting apparatus, the said bearing having a vertical adjustment, substantially as set forth.

4. In a mower, the combination, with a rising-and-falling cutting apparatus connected at one end to the main frame, and a whitfletree having a moven'ient relatively to the machine in the direction of the line of draft, of a flexible connection of the whittletree with the folding or linger-bar portion of the cutting apparatus, said flexible connection of the whitiletree beingconnected with this portion ment, substantially as set forth.

5. In a mower, the combination, with a ris ing-and-falling cutting apparatus connected at one end to the main frame, and a whittletree having a movement relatively to the machine in the direction of the line of draft, and a bearing for the linked connection secured to the machine in vertical adjustm'iont, of the flexible connection of the whiffletree and folding or finger-bar portion of the cutting apparatus, the said flexible connection engaged in said bearing and having, a vertical adjust ment at the end connected with the folding or finger-bar portion of the cutting apparatus, substantially as set forth.

\VILLIAM A. KNOlVLTON.

\Vitnesses:

FRANK P. (JoLLtEn, A. O. BEHEL. 

